Department
of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
2.134 Clay Hall
Route: 0857 |
Tel: (409) 747-6810
|
Fax: (409) 747-6000 |
webraun@utmb.edu
Research
The challenge in the post genomic era is to make full use of the vast genomic data in understanding the molecular mechanism of the function of proteins. Funding from the Department of Energy has allowed us to develop an expert system, MASIA, to quantitatively
identify motifs and patterns of diversity in protein sequences. MASIA, in combination with homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, can be used to characterize functional motifs in protein families. In collaboration with Drs. T. Izumi
and S. Mitra from the Sealy Center for Molecular Science (SCMS) we are determining how apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases respond to subtle differences in the structure and dynamics of DNA sites damaged by low dose ionizing radiation. We are relating
motifs identified by MASIA to the function of DNA recognition, catalysis and protein-protein interaction. Screening gene databases with these novel motifs should reveal new candidates for APE related proteins.
Lab Webpage